C’est bon…Cajun Corner Brings New Flavor to Marianna, Partners with Local Businesses

A taste of Louisiana is making its way to Marianna with the opening of Cajun Corner, a new restaurant set to open the weekend after Labor Day. Owner Kimberly Walters is bringing her passion for Cajun and Creole cooking to Jackson County, while also highlighting the flavors and farms that make the area unique.

From day one, Walters knew she wanted her restaurant to celebrate Jackson County by sourcing local products. She and her mother preserve homegrown peppers and tomatoes for use in Cajun dishes. She partners with Southern Craft Creamery for dairy and desserts and WebMD Seafood for gulf shrimp. Most recently, she teamed up with Mayo’s Butcher Block in Alford to bring fresh, locally processed alligator to the menu.

“What’s a Cajun restaurant without gator?” Walters said with a laugh. “We’ll have gator nuggets, and we even worked with Jason and his family to develop a gator burger. I already do shrimp burgers, so it was a natural step.”

For Jason Mayo, owner of Mayo’s Butcher Block, the partnership is a perfect fit. His shop has become the go-to spot in Jackson County for gator processing after a friend who works as a nuisance trapper with FWC asked him to help seal and process the meat.

“We’re local to Jackson County, born and raised in Alford,” Mayo said. “When Mr. Delmore shut down, there wasn’t anyone else processing gators. So, we decided to step in and help the community out.”

Mayo sees gator hunting as part of Florida’s culture, comparing it to deer hunting in the Midwest. His family-run business, he explained, is rooted in community values. “When we handle beef or gator, we think about how our own family would want it prepared. That’s how we treat every cut that comes through our doors.”

For Walters, showcasing those kinds of community ties is exactly what Cajun Corner is about.

“I’m sixth-generation Jackson County,” she said. “I grew up smelling the peanuts, pecans, and cattle that make this place special. Coming back home, I wanted to bring something new, but also something that celebrates who we are.

Cajun Corner will open inside the Florida Camerons RV Resort Park, a prime location for both locals and tourists. Across from the county park and surrounded by steady RV traffic, Walters hopes the restaurant will become a destination for food and fellowship.

“Food should be fun,” she said. “We want people to come here, enjoy Cajun flavors made with Jackson County ingredients, and make great memories, whether it’s a birthday, a holiday gathering, or just dinner with friends.”

The restaurant will begin with limited hours: Fridays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Walters said the community’s support has already been overwhelming, with strong engagement on Cajun Corner’s Facebook and TikTok pages.

“I’m a 60-plus-year-old woman who never thought she’d be running a TikTok,” Walters said with a smile. “But the community has really gotten behind us, and that means everything. Our church family has been wonderful, too. With their support, I know we can create the kind of place where people will eat well and feel at home.”

From gator burgers to gulf shrimp, Cajun Corner is shaping up to be more than just a restaurant, it’s a showcase of Jackson County’s food, farms, and families.

Look for opening date and time in this Thursday’s Jackson County Times newspaper.